MT Golf: Raiders earn runner-up trophy in Knoxville

Sep 19, 2018 at 09:00 am by Voice Wire

MTSU Golf

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Despite starting the final round of the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship in fifth place, Middle Tennessee Head Women's Golf Coach Chris Adams and her squad navigated past multiple teams Tuesday with an even par round to clinch a runner-up finish in Knoxville.

The Blue Raiders landed at 23-over par (294-297-284=875) for the tournament as teams who started the day in front of them slipped down the leaderboard with over par rounds to leave team champion Kent State (303-284-283=870) as the only squad above MT on the final leaderboard.

The Raiders finished the week one stroke up on Conference USA foe Charlotte and nine strokes up on defending C-USA champions UTSA while also knocking off host Tennessee by nine strokes on their home course.

As MT recorded its first runner-up team finish since the 2016 Conference USA Championship, the real story lies in how it did so.

The Blue Raiders were without redshirt senior Jenna Burris due to injury, forcing a last minute lineup change, and performed admirably as freshman Catherine Caudill fired a 5-under 66 in the final round to climb into a tie for second individually at 1-under par (73-73-66=212) for the week.

Caudill narrowly edged teammate and fellow Clarksville native Hanley Long, who entered the day with the individual lead, by a stroke to give Middle Tennessee a pair of golfers inside the Top 4 on the individual leaderboard at the end of the day.

The runner-up team finish shows great improvement over the last two years for the Blue Raiders, who finished 12th overall at 47-over par in the same event just two seasons ago.

NOTABLES

Freshman Catherine Caudill's 5-under 66 in round three is the best round ever by a Middle Tennessee freshman and tied for the second best all-time in Blue Raider history.

The younger Caudill's 54-hole total of 1-under par 212 bests the previous MT freshman record by three strokes and is tied for the third best performance all-time by a Blue Raider.

The Blue Raider rookie was tied for second in the field of 93 golfers in Par 4 scoring (E, 4.00), tied for fourth in Par 3 scoring (E, 3.00) and tied for 21st in Par 5 scoring (-1, 4.93) as well as tied for sixth in total birdies (10) and tied for 13th in total pars (35).

Senior Hanley Long's 4th place finish marks her third consecutive Top 5 finish dating back to the 2018 Conference USA Championship in April and her fifth career Top 5 finish which is tied for fifth in MT history
Long's even par 213 for the tournament matches the eighth best 54-hole total in Middle Tennessee women's golf history.

Long led the field in Par 3 scoring at 1-under (2.94) and total pars (39) on the week.

Middle Tennessee's final round 284 is tied for the ninth best team round in program history while the three-round total of 875 is also tied for ninth all-time at MT.

QUOTABLES

"We left everything on the course today and really never gave anything back. It was fun to be in the hunt for a championship. This team is really special, what else can you say. Everyone did their part today and this team can be really good if they all start believing in themselves. To do this without one of your senior leaders makes it even more special and shows how much better this team can continue to get. Kent State is going to be a Top 25 program and we were right there with them and know we can compete on that level with this team. It was really special to have a 66 today as well. You don't have that every day, but anyone on this team is capable of it and it's really encouraging to see it come from a freshman so early in her career." - Head Coach Chris Adams

"Today I made every putt in sight and I used that to the team's advantage. I needed to make every possible birdie to help out the rest of my team and move us up the leaderboard. So far, my teammates have helped me out so much when I'm not playing my best and I can't thank them enough for it. Coach Adams and Coach Narramore are the two best coaches I could've ever asked for. They keep me calm and give me the confidence I need to make my shots. Down the stretch I was so nervous I was shaking because I knew how many under par I was. I didn't know where we stood as a team, but I knew I needed to maintain my score to give us the best possible result. I'm proud of this one, but I'm ready to take on the next!" - Freshman Catherine Caudill

"Coming in second place with the given circumstances is an incredible group accomplishment. We competed with a lot of teams that are typically ranked in the Top 50, so to put up three awesome team rounds speaks for itself. We definitely missed having Jenna this trip but I'm super proud of the rounds our underclassmen put together. We have so much potential and I think we're all finally realizing how successful we can be if we keep grinding and fighting. It's a great feeling knowing the program is going to be in good hands once Jenna, Kailey, and I graduate." - Senior Hanley Long

WHAT'S NEXT

The Blue Raiders have a quick turnaround as they have a practice round Thursday at Vanderbilt Legends Club before opening play at the Mason Rudolph Championship in Franklin on Friday.

Sections: Sports